Battle of Princeton

The Battle of Princeton (3 January 1777) was a major battle of the American Revolutionary War that occurred during the New Jersey campaign of 1776-7. Just a week after his first victory at the Battle of Trenton, George Washington again defeated the British at Princeton, turning the tide of the war in the United States' favor.

Following the Battle of Trenton, Washington decided to attack the British in New Jersey before entering winter quarters, hoping to score another victory to inspire his soldiers to re-enlist. On 30 December 1776, Washington crossed the Delaware back into New Jersey, and he deceived the British general Charles Cornwallis by keeping his abandoned camp's fires lit.

Washington then circled around Cornwallis' army and attacked the British garrison at Princeton, commanded by Charles Mawhood. Hugh Mercer and his troops attacked Mawhood's two regiments on 3 January, and Mercer was mortally wounded, while his men collapsed. The militia, on seeing the flight of Mercer's men, also began to flee, but Washington rode in front of his men (just 30 paces from the British line) to rally them, and he then drove back Mawhood's troops. Mawhood ordered his troops to retreat and join Cornwallis in Trenton, while John Sullivan's American troops entered Princeton and forced the British troops in Nassau Hall to surrender, ending the battle. After the battle, the Americans moved into winter quarters at Morristown, and the British decided to evacuate southern New Jersey. The Battle of Princeton rose American morale, and more men decided to re-enlist in the Continental Army.